Summer is almost here and it’s expected to be a busy travel season. Check out these tips to save money and stretch your dollar this summer. Let us know in the comments if you have any more tips!
Avoid buying travel-size toiletries, they’re generally more expensive than their larger counterparts. Instead take the toiletries you already have and squeeze them into smaller TSA-approved travel bottles. We like these from IKEA they follow the TSA rules of 3.4 ounces or smaller.
If you’re traveling abroad you’re going to want to check to make sure your carrier will allow you to use your phone at affordable rates, but if not you’re going to want to unlock your current phone or pick up a cheap unlocked phone for your trip. We’ve found plenty of cheap Android smartphones that will still allow you to get email, take great photos, and access all your apps. Our favorite is the Honor 5X at $160 (but you can find more here). It’s affordable and a great replacement phone.
No one wants to spend upwards of $100 on fees at the airport. Pick up a luggage scale here, and weigh your luggage before your trip to avoid paying overweight bag fees.
If you’re a frequent flyer then you’re well aware of how expensive the food at the airport can be. Plan ahead by packing dry snacks like Kind bars, Quaker Chewy bars, or nut snacks. If you have children, buy in bulk and transfer them into individual bags for cost-effectiveness. You can buy these snacks in bulk on Amazon.
$2, $3, or $4—whatever the cost, buying water at the airport quickly adds up. Come prepared with a bottle and take advantage of the water fountains at the airport. We’ve found some cool bottles like this one from HYDAWAY—it’s collapsible when empty.
Make sure to shop around for accommodations. We might be biased, but we recommend Hotelwatchdog. They analyze millions of details, including value, location, and prices to find you the best deals.
You don’t want to over-pack your luggage, but try to bring some of the small things that you’ll need on the trip. Simple things like headphones, umbrellas, phone chargers, and charging cables may seem small but are expensive to purchase at the airport or touristy locations. Make sure to double-check that you have everything you’ll need before heading to the airport. See the necessities here.
And of course airfare alerts … We wouldn’t be Airfarewatchdog if we didn’t recommend this tip! Easily set up alerts on our site and we’ll notify you when we locate the best deals. We report on all airlines, even Southwest and Delta. Sign up here or learn more here.
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